Ralph Büchi becomes COO of the Ringier Group and CEO of Ringier Axel Springer Switzerland
Ringier Strengthens Its Group Executive Board: Ralph Büchi Has Been Appointed as the New Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the Ringier Group.
The 59-year-old will assume his new role as COO Ringier Group on June 1, 2017, in which capacity Büchi will also become CEO of Ringier Axel Springer Switzerland. The joint venture between Ringier and Axel Springer has been operational since January 2016 and is the largest magazine publisher in Switzerland with 30 titles and 840 issues per year.
Büchi will also continue to serve as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Ringier Axel Springer Media, the joint venture between Ringier and Axel Springer in Central and Eastern Europe.
In his new role, Büchi is a member of Ringier's Group Executive Board. He reports directly to CEO Marc Walder and acts as his deputy.
Ralph Büchi began his journalistic career as an editor at the Handelszeitung, of which he later became co-owner and CEO before selling the publishing house to Axel Springer in 1999. Büchi has been President of Axel Springer International since 2008. From 2012 to 2014, he was a member of the Executive Board of Axel Springer SE.
Marc Walder, CEO Ringier, in a press release: "With Ralph Büchi, we have been able to gain one of the most experienced media managers in Europe for our company. With his broad expertise in the areas of publishing and classifieds, he is an ideal addition to our management team."
Ralph Büchi, designated COO Ringier Group: "Through my functions for Ringier Axel Springer Switzerland and Ringier Axel Springer Media, I have been working closely and very trustingly with the Ringier management for years. I am very much looking forward to my new role on this board."
In addition to Ringier CEO Marc Walder and COO Ralph Büchi, the Ringier Group Executive Board also includes the following members: Annabella Bassler (CFO), Xiaoqun Clever (Chief Technology & Data Officer), Thomas Kaiser (CEO Ringier Digital), Robin Lingg (CEO Ringier Africa & Asia) and Alexander Theobald (COO Ringier Switzerland and Managing Director Blick Group). All members will continue to report to CEO Marc Walder.
